We perform a computational mapping study of a family of new inorganic species, based on idea of donor–acceptor type bonding between N⁺ and a ligand L with a terminal electron lone pair. The nitrogen ion is seen as being in an atomic ¹D state, with empty 2p acceptor orbitals [I. S. K. Kerkines, A. Papakondylis, A. Mavridis, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2002, 106, 4435]. We consider a series of small ligands, such as PN, CCH⁻, CCCN⁻, NH₂⁻, and others. Chemical bonding analysis confirms the suggested bonding picture as characteristic for experimentally known N₅⁺ and N(CO)₂⁺ as well as for most of the predicted species. A number of these new compounds is found to be thermodynamically stable with respect to the existing N₅⁺ or N(CN)₂⁻. They are candidates for new synthetic targets.